Impressive museum

Hamid Baghaei, the Vice President of Iran and head of the Iranian Cultural Heritage Handicraft and Tourism Organization, was fascinated by the various pieces displayed at the Framji Dadabhoy Alpaiwalla Museum managed by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) at Khareghat Colony. Curator Nivedita D. Mehta pointed out and explained in detail the provenance of the antiques, unique collection of traditional apparel and original manuscripts and ancient delicately carved teak doors collected by F. D. Alpaiwalla and J. Unwalla, when Baghaei and the visiting delegation came on a visit on March 25, 2010, notes a press release from Godrej Dotivala, public relations officer of the BPP. Baghaei reportedly offered help to make it a state-of-the-art museum.

As a memento, BPP trustee Khojeste Mistree presented the Vice President the coffee table book Zoroastrian Tapestry, co-authored by his wife Firoza Punthakey Mistree and Pheroza Godrej.

Later an interactive session was arranged between Baghaei and the BPP team led by chairman Dinshaw Mehta at the residence of the Iranian Consul General Ali Mohammadi at Nepean Sea Road. Topics like Islamic-Zoroastrian theology and developing Iranian tourism were discussed, states Dotivala.